Perambulator.



J. L. KNUDSEN.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED n. 1, I91].

Patented A111: 13, 11915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ti 9 1 D THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOnMJTHt).v WASHINGTON. D. C.

1. 1. IKNUDSEN.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1. 1911.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

4: SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fizz/62%;. J072rafi. mew

THE NORRIS PEfERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHO. WASHING TON, 1.-

J. L. KNUDSEN.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I, 911.

Patented Apr, 13, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

if. fizz/076672 l'v'i N/VRRIS PETERS 60., PHOTC-LITHO. WASHINGTON, D, c.

PERAMBULATOR.

APPLICATION 111.120 FEB. 1.1911.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

4 SHEETS-$11331 4.

THE NORPIS PETERS co PHOTO-LITHO, WASHINGTON. D. c,

JOHN L. KIlUDSEIQ, OF JK'YENOMINEE, MICHIG N, ASSIGNUR OF ONE-THIRD T6 NEL$ 9F CHICAGQ, ILLINGIS.

TQ ARTHUR, VI. NELSQN,

menses.

Application filed February 1, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. Knonsnn, a citiiten of the United States, residing at Menominee, in the county of Menominee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Perambulators, of which the following is a full, true, c ear, and exact description such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and to use the same.

My invention relates particularly to the class of perambulators known as foldable or collapsible go-carts and has for its primary object to provide a gocart which shall. be both light and strong and which can be folded easily into compact parcel.

.[inother GlJjQCu of my invention is to provide a go-cart having wheel frames foldable beneath the go-cart by means of the handle and to provice improved means of bracing the said wheel frames whereby a free underframe is secured.

it. further object of my invention is to provide means for locking the ggo-czrt in open condition and means for looking it in closed or collapsed condition.

A further particular object of the inven tion is to provide a hinge for pivotally securing the wheel frames to the running frai e of such construction that the tubing co .isxng the running gear frame shall be relieved from tearing or crushing strains and means of bracing the wheel frames from said hinges.

My invention consists generally in a gocart having a main or running gear frame with a handle pivotally secured thereto, wheel frames hinged to the running frame and adapted t be folded into paral lel relation with the main frame by means of the handle, and means for bracing said wheel frames in operative position from adjacent sides of the running gear frame.

My inve tion consists further in the novel s of pivotally connecting the wheel :rrames to the frame to permit them to be folded into parallel relation with and beneath the rt: unn' gear frame.

Mnother feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of the wheel frame braces whereby they are braced from adjacent sides of the main or running gear frame and whereby the wheel frames are permitted to be folded beneath the main frame.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. f3, 133915.,

Serial No. 608,615.

A further feature of the invention resides in the novel construction of the wheel frame folding means whereby the wheel frames are locked in open or operative condition by the movement of the go-cart handle in one direction and automatically unlocked by the movement of the handle in the other direction.

Still another feature of the invention consists in the construction of the seat and back supporting means whereby they are lowered by the movement of the handle into a position between the sides of the main frame with the under side thereof in the plane, substantially, of the lower part of the main frame.

My invention consists further in certain features of novelty in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts by which the said objects and certain other ob jects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,l ignre 1 is a side elevation of my improved perambnlator or go cart; is a rear elevation taken from 1; 3 is a bottom plan view of the go-cart on smaller scale; Fig. f is a top plan view of the gro-cart in folded or collapsed condition with the sides, seat, back, and certain other members removed to better disclose the frame structure; Fig. 5 is an edge view showing the go-cart in collapsed condition; Fig. 6 is a detailed view, viewed in the direction of the arrows, of the mechanism for folding the wheel frames and locking the wheel frame braces substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a view of the mec ianism shown in Fig. 6, but showing; the parts in collapsed condition; 8 is a detailed view of the members for liingginethe wheel frame at the forward end and for bracing the same; 9 illustrates the members shown in Fig. 8 in collapsed condition; Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view showing the mechanism for antomatically locking and automatically unlocking the wheel frame braces; and Fig. 11 is a perspective detail of the front hinge showing; means of bracing the wheel frame therefrom.

In the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying strong and light.

drawings, 1 is the main or running gear tions 1 and 1 and a front end-portion 1'.

To the free end of the U frame I secure the lower ends of a U-shaped handle 2 by'means of which the wheel frames are swung beneath the frame 1 and the seat is lowered. Straps 3 secured to the frame 1 form a con venient means for the pivot 3' of the handle 2. The pivot 3 extends between the sides of the main frame forming a tie-rod (as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the same being broken off in Fig. 2 to better disclose the other parts). To the sides 1 and 1 of the main frame 1 l secure by means of hinges e and 5, depending wheel frames 6 'and 7. The frames 6 and 7 are composed of light strap material formed to U-shapein end elevation and toil-shape in side elevation, thus providing parallel side bars 6 and 6 between which the front and rear wheels 8 and 9 can be conveniently mounted, as well as providing means whereby the wheels can be folded in pairs beneath the frame 1, and also held in operative position at the desired distance below the'frame. The wheel frames are secured to the lower members 4: and of the hinges f and 5 as will be de scribed in detail hereinafter.

It is desirable that the seat be supported above the running gear frame 1 in order that it may be at a convenient height and also in order to bring it sufficiently above the foot rest or well. However, it is also desirable that the seat be lowered close to the main frame when the cart is collapsed to proide a compact parcel. These results I obtain by supporting the seat 10 from the side bars 11, which are supported above and parallel to the frame 1 by means of links or levers 11, and 12 which are pivoted to the frame 1 at 11 and 12. The bars 11 are pivotally secured to the levers 11 and 12 at 11 and 12". Springs 13 secured to the bars 11 at 13 serve to support the seat yieldingly. Byreference to Fig. 2 it will be seen t1 at the'springs 13 are of such construction that both vertical and transverse movement of the] seat is permitted. It should also be noticed that there are no positive stops beneath the seat against which it can abut. I consider this quite an important advantage as it adds greatly to the comfort of the child. Thus I attain the easy riding feature of the non-collapsible baby carriage. To the rear end of the seat 10 is secured by means ofpivots 14 the backrest. 14, which is supported by any suitable means such as a bail 15, pivotally secured ,to the levers 12. The back 14 may be held in the position shown in the drawmembers 4 and 0 ings or in a lower position to accommodate the child in recumbent position in a manner well understood.

15 represents a foot-rest or well which is hrmg from the main frame 1 and from the crossrod 15 secured in levers 11 (see Fig.

It is preferably made of easily collapsible material so that it may be collapsed by the wheel frames when they are folded beneath the frame 1. Sides 1G-16 and front 17 are secured to the main frame 1 by means of hinges 1616" and 17 respectively, which hinges permit the sides and front to be folded into parallel relation with and above the frame 1. The sides are held in open position by means of a glove button fastening 18 secured in the lever 12. The front piece 17 is held in open position by a similar fastener 17 (see Fig. 1) secured in sides 16. These fasteners are of such vell-known construction that it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate them in detail.

I shall. now describe in detail the means for pivotally securing the wheel frame to the frame 1., the means for bracing said wheel frame; the means for operating said wheel frames from the handle and the means for locking the cart structure in open condition and in closed or collzu sed condition. The mechanism for operating each wheel frame is the same (except as hereinafter noted) hence a description of the 1nechunism for operating one wheel frame will suffice for both. The wheel frames as above stated comprise parallel straps 6 and 6". These are bent, as best shown in Fig. 1, with a horizontal portion 6 and verti al portions 6 and 6, the wheels being mounted in horizontal portion 6: The parts 6" and 6 of the inner strap 6 are riveted to the lower members i and 5' of the hinges f and 5. The hinges 4 and 5 comprise upper and lower members 4 and 5. The upper members 4- and 5 have strap portions 4: and 5 which are bent over the top of the tubing 1 and are rigidly secured thereto by means of vertical rivets l 5 and horizontal rivets 4-, 12, depending portions of upper members 1", 5 have inwardly projecting ears 1 and the lower members f and 5 of the hin es have ears e, which fit within the cars of the upper portion of the hinge. Hori- Zontal rivets 2t and couple the hinge members together and it is obvious that the inward folding of the wheel frame is permitted by this construction. Also, the strap portions 4: and 59 secured to the tubing are of suflicient strength and rigidity to pre vent any crushing and tearing of the tubing. This is quite an important feature inasmuch as the tubing is subjected, when in use, to extreme abuse at these points. To hold the wheel frame in open or operative position I provide forward and rearward toggle braces 26 and 27. These are composed of upper and lower members 28, and 28 and 29, 29", respectively, which members are pivotally connected at 30 and 31. The lower member 29 of the rear brace 27 is pivoted to the wheel frame strap 6 at 27 and the upper member 29 is pivoted at 29 to a swivel 82 secured to the transverse angleiron 33. The swivel 82 is a U-shaped memher havin side ortions 32 anc 32 coni .L' Ill r'w nected by the end portion 32 lne portions 32 and 32 are in a plane parallel to the vertical side 33 of the angle-iron 33 and the end portion 32 is at right angles to the portions 32 and 32". A pin serves to pivotally secure the swivel 32 to the cross-bar 33. I prefer to tie the swivels 32 on each side of the cart by means of a tie-bar 32 (as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4:) same being broken away in Fig. 2 to better disclose the swivel connections. Swivels 32 are provided with stop or limit lugs 32 which are secured in cross-bar 33. By refer ence to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the relation of the toggle brace to the wheel frame and transverse angle-iron 33 is the same as that between the hypotenuse of a right angled triangle and its legs. It should also be noticed that the center of the horizontal swivel pivot 52 of the swivel 32 is in the transverse plane of the middle of the main frame 1. It is obvious that the swivel 32 will pe mit the inward folding of the wheel frame 6 by rotating in the direction of the arrow (see Fig. 2) thereby maintaining the parallel relation between the pivots 29. 31 and 27'. It is not practicable to provide a transverse member at the forward part of the cart to which to secure the swivel and from which to brace the wheel frames. Hence if provide the strap portion 1 of the forward hinge 4 with a pair of inwardly projecting cars 1-6. A tl-shaped member 41 is pivotally secured there-between by means of a horizontal pin 12, the axis of which is in the same plane as the axis of the pivot pin 32 of the swivel 32 at the rear end of the cart. The upper member 28' of the toggle brace 26 is pivoted to the U member 4-1 at 1-1 and the lower member 28 is pivoted to the wheel frame at 28. A stop or limit lug 30 is secured in the upper member 28 of the front toggle brace 26 and a stop or limit lug 81 is also provided in the rear toggle brace 27 the purpose of which is obvious. This construction secures the same freedom of movement as that of the rear brace and therefore permits the inward folding of the wheel frame. It should be observed that by this construction the wheel frames are rigidly braced from points adjacent respective sides of the go-cart frame and from points in a central transverse plane of the main or running-gear frame. Thus an entirely free under-frame is secured, that is, there is no cross-bails, gates and the like between the wheel frames.

@f course if desired other braces such as are provided at the front of the cart may be placed intermediate of the front and the rear, but I find that two give sufficient rigidity to the structure.

An important advantage of the construction of the forward toggle brace and means of securing it to the main frame 1 is that while it is braced therefrom the strain is taken by the hinge or strap member 1 lit should also be noticed that the wheels are without the pivots 2-1 and 25 of the hinges 1- and 5. Therefore the weight of the cart and occupant tend to prevent the inward folding of the wheel frames and tend to force the outer end of the lower hinge member upward. I have, therefore, made the lower members 4i, 5' with a lat horizontal upper surface 4 5 which form a seat for the upper hinge portion.

I desire that the movement of the handle 2 into parallel relation with the main frame 1 shall cause the inward folding of the wheel frames. This T accomplish by connecting the lever 12 with the handle 2 by a link or arm 60. An arm 61 is pivotally secured to the inner side of the runninggear frame 1 at 61 and contains slot 61" in which a pivot-pin 12 secured in the lower portion of the lever 12 travels. The free end 62 of the arm 61 is bent at right angles to the main part and in this portion T secure one end of a link 42, the other end being secured at 42 to a clip 13 which is riveted to the wheel frame 6. Thus as the handle 2 is moved forward into parallel relation with the frame 1 the end of the lever 12 is moved in the direction of the arrows (see Figs. 6 and 10) which raises the arm 61 vertically and thereby powerfully pulls the wheel frames inward into parallel relation with the running-gear frame 1. The mechanism for folding the wheel frames inward is substantially identical on each side except that they are relatively timed so that one wheel frame starts moving inward before the other and the latter moves inward quickly, while in opening the side last to move inward moves out first and binding of the wheels is thereby prevented. Considering that the toggle braces are in open position, as they are when the cart is in operative position, it is necessary to break the joint before the wheel frames can be swung inwardly. I desire also to lock the toggle braces against accidental breaking. In order that this may be done automatically by movement of the handle I connect the upper member of the toggle braces by connecting-bar 15. An end portion 46 bent at right angles thereto (see Figs. 2, 6 and 10) abuts the end 62 of the arm 61. Therefore when the cart is in open position the arm effectually locks the toggle braces against collapse. In 001- lapsing the cart the arm 61 moving upwardly strikes the lever M which is pivotally supported from the transverse angleiron 33 at l7. This throws the lever 47 into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. '10 thereby moving the connecting bar 45 sufficiently to break the toggle braces. Of course in closing the cart these parts resume the position shown by full lines (shown best in Figs. 6 and whereby the braces are effectually and automatically locked in open or operative position. I prefer to provide a knuckle-lever 50 between the handle 2 and the frame 1 which it is first necessary to break before the handle can be moved forward and which therefore locks the cart as a whole against collapse.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 7 it will be seen that when the go-cart is collapsed the pivot 12 of the lever 12 is slightly past center, that is slightly past its highest vertical position. Thus the weight of the wheels and wheel frames maintain the handle against the frame 1 and the handle prevents the movement of the wheel frames away from the frame; By this construction the 'cart is locked in collapsed condition.

To collapse the cart the back ll is swung forward into parallel relation with the seat 10 andresting thereon. The front 17 and sides 16l6 are folded in above the back 14. The knucklelevers are then broken and the handle 2 moved forward into parallel relation with the frame 1 and the wheel frames are thereby swung beneath the frame 1 as previously stated. l/Vhen the cart is completely collapsed I the wheels, wheel frames, and braces, seat, back, and sides are all substantially parallel to the main frame 1 and compactly folded thereupon as well shown in Fig. 5. While I have described the various parts in minute detailsuch description should not be considered an undue limitation as various modifications will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art to which this appertains.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patenti 1. In a folding perambulator, a runninggear frame having side members, in combination with a wheel frame pivotally secured to each side member, deflectable braces having one end secured to the wheel frame and the other end secured to supports at points adjacent respective wheel frames and in the central transverse plane of the running gear frame, a handle pivotally connected to the running gear frame, means for folding said ,wheel frames beneath the running gear frame by movement of the handle and means operated by the handle for locking said defiectable braces against collapse when in operative condition, substantially as described.

' 2. In a folding perambulator, a runninggear frame having side members, in combination with a wheel frame pivotally secured to each side member, deflectable braces having one end secured to the wheel frame and the other end secured to supports at points adjacent respective wheel frames and in the central transverse plane of the running-gear frame, a handle pivotally connected to the running-gear frame, means for folding said wheel frames beneath the running-gear frame by movement of the handle, moans operated by the handle for locking said dofiectable braces against collapse when in operative condition and means for automatically breaking said deflectable braces by movement of the handle, substantially as described.

3. In a collapsible go-cart, the combination with a running-gear frame, of a pair of wheel frames pivotally secured thereto and depending therefrom, toggle braces for bracing said wheel frames when in operative position, said toggle braces extending between supports adjacent respective wheel frames and in the central transverse plane of the running gear frame, a handle pivotally secured to said running gear frame,

forward and rearward ends of the running gear frame, wheel frames secured to said hinge members, toggle braces connecting said wheel frames at the forward end with the inner side of the forward hinge members, a cross tie connecting the sides of the wheel frame near the rear end thereof, toggle braces connecting the rear end of the wheel frames with the said cross tie, a connecting rod connecting the forward toggle braces with the rearward toggle braces, a handle pivotally connected to the running gear frame, an arm pivotally connected to the running gear frame, means for swinging said arm by movement of the handle and means connecting said arm with the wheel frames whereby movement of the said arm folds the wheel frames beneath the running gear frame, substantially as described.

5. In a folding perambulator, the combination of a running-gear frame, members secured to the forward end of the runninggear frame and members rigidly secured to the running-gear frame near the rear end thereof, depending portions on said members, wheel frames secured to said depend.

ing portions by means of horizontal pivots, toggle braces connecting the front end of the wheel frames with the said members secured to the front of the running-gear frame, a cross member connecting the sides of the running-gear frame adjacent the rear end thereof, toggle braces connecting the rear end of the wheel frames with said cross member, connecting rod connecting the forward and rearward toggle braces of respective wheel frames, a handle pivotally connected to the running gear frame, arms pivotally connected to the running-gear frame, links connecting said arms to the wheel frame, means for moving said arms by movement of the handle, the movement of said arms in one direction causing the folding of the wheel frames beneath the running-gear frames, the movement of the arms in the opposite direction causing the folding of the wheel frames into operative position, substantially as described.

6. in a folding perambulator, the combination of a running-gear frame, a handle pivotally secured thereto, a pair of wheel frames pivotally secured to the running gear frame, toggle braces connecting each wheel frame with the running gear frame, said toggle braces being pivotally connected at one end to swivel members carried by the run ning gear frame, and at the other end by pivot pins to the wheel frames, means for operating by movement of the handle and means for locking said braces in extended or operative position and means operable by movement of the handle for folding th, wheel frame beneath the running-gear frame, substantially as described.

7. In a folding perambulator the combi nation of a running-gear frame, a pair of wheel frames pivotally secured thereto, a handle pivotally secured to the runninggear frame, toggle braces connecting each wheel frame at the forward and rearward ends with the running gear frame, a con necting bar connecting forward and rearward braces of each wheel frame, means operable by movement of the handle for engaging said connecting bars to distend and lock said toggle braces in operative position, means operable by movement of the handle for folding said wieel frames beneath the running-gear frame and also said braces, substantially as described.

8. in a folding perambulator, the combination of a runninggear frame having side members of a pair of wheel frames connected to hinges secured to the running-gear frame at the forward and rearward ends thereof, a handle pivotally secured to the running-gear frame, toggle braces connecting the wheel frames at the forward end with the forward hinges, toggle braces connecting the wheel frames at the rearward end with a cross tie of the running gear frame, a link connecting forward and rearward toggle braces of each wheel frame, means operable from the iandle for engaging said connecting links to distend and lock the toggle braces in operative position, means operable by movement of the handle for unlocking said toggle braces, and means operable by movement of the handle for holding the wheel frames and toggle braces into parallel relation with and beneath running-gear frame, substantially as described.

9. In a folding perambulator, the combination of a running-gear frame having side members, a cross bar connecting said side members with the rear end of the frame, a handle member pivotally secured to the running-gear frame, hinge members secured to said side members adjacent to front end thereof and hinge members secured to the running-gear frame, adjacent rear end, said hinge members comprising an upper member having a strap portion secured to the run ning gear frame and a portion depending from said strap portion, with a pair of parallel ears, and a lower member secured to the upper member by a longitudinal pivot passing through said parallel ears, a wheel frame secured to the lower hinged members of each side, toggle braces extending between the forward endof each wheel frame and the strap portion of said forward hinge members, toggle braces connecting the rear end of said wheel frames with the cross member of the running-gear frame, means operable by movement of the handle for locking the toggle braces in distended or operative position, and means operable by movement of the handle for folding said wheel frames and toggle braces into parallel relation with and beneath the running gear frame.

10. In a folding perambulator, the combi' nation of a running gear frame having side members, a cross bar connecting said side members with the rear end of the frame, a handle member pivotally secured to the running gear frame, hinge members secured to said side members adjacent the front end thereof and hinge members secured to the runninggear frame adjacent rear end thereof, said hinge members comprising an upper member having a strap portion secured to the running-gear frame and a portion depending from said strap portion with a pair of parallel ears and a lower member secured to said upper member by a longitudinal pivot passing through said parallel cars, a pair of parallel ears projecting inwardly from the said strap portion, toggle braces extending between the front end of said wheel frames and said inwardly projecting ears of the front hinges, a swivel member secured in said ears to which the toggle braces are fastened, toggle braces extending between the rear end of said wheel frames and swivel members secured to said cross member, a connecting bar connecting forward and rearward toggle braces of said wheel frames, means operableby movement of the handle to lock said toggle braces in distended or operative position and means operable by movement of the handle for unlocking said toggle braces and for folding said wheel frames and braces into parallel position with and beneath said running-gear frame, sub- 10 stantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 21st day of January, 1911, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOHN L. KNUDSEN.

Witnesses:

META JUReENs, NELs PETERSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

-' r Washington, 12.0. 

